Chapter 69

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At the Hu family residence, the banquet was in full swing.

Liu Jian sat in the center, with Hu Ying accompanying him. Hu Chengguang, her face slightly flushed, sat beside Liu Jian, holding a wine cup and offering it to his lips.

"Your Highness, have another drink."

"I want you... to feed me." Liu Jian's tongue was thick, his eyes red, and they gleamed with lust.

"Am I not feeding Your Highness?" Hu Chengguang said with a smile, moving closer to Liu Jian to make it easier for his hand to move under her clothes.

"I want you... to feed me with your mouth." Liu Jian chuckled, extending a finger and waving it for a long time before touching Hu Chengguang's crimson lips. Hu Chengguang lowered her head, giggling. Hu Ying coughed, holding his wine cup and looking away. Hu Chengguang picked up the wine cup, took a small sip, and moved closer to Liu Jian. Liu Jian laughed loudly, opened his arms, and pulled Hu Chengguang into his embrace, his mouth moving towards hers.

"Your Highness!" A voice broke the intimate atmosphere, and a tall, sturdy officer strode in, standing in the hall. Two armored soldiers, their hands on their swords, guarded him, pushing aside the Hu family servants who tried to stop them.

Liu Jian flew into a rage, released Hu Chengguang, and stood up, kicking the table in front of him away. He pointed at the man and shouted, "Tu Hu, are you blind? How dare you be disrespectful to this Prince? Even Zheng Dangshi wouldn't dare to do this."

The man was Tu Hu, the commandant of the State Chancellor's office and Zheng Dangshi's personal guard. Hearing Liu Jian call Zheng Dangshi by his name, Tu Hu also became angry and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, someone has filed a complaint against you. Please come to the State Chancellor's office for questioning."

"Complain about me? Who dares to complain about me?" Liu Jian became even more furious, drawing his sword and waving it wildly.

Tu Hu reached out, grabbed Liu Jian's wrist, and with a light twist, disarmed him. He returned the sword to its scabbard, gently pushed Liu Jian towards his attendants, and glanced at Hu Ying.

"The person who complained about Your Highness is Liang Xiao."

"Liang Xiao?" Liu Jian was shocked, half-sobered. "He's still alive?"

"Does Your Highness hope he is dead?" Tu Hu raised his thick eyebrows and asked with a smile.

"Uh..." Liu Jian realized he had misspoken and quickly covered his mouth. His face turned pale, and he looked at Hu Ying in panic.

Hu Ying was also very surprised. He stood up but did not dare to speak. Liang Xiao was still alive and had filed a complaint against Liu Jian at the State Chancellor's office? How did this happen? This meant that Feng Ji must have failed, and no matter how capable he was, he wouldn't dare to search for people at the State Chancellor's office.

Just as Hu Ying was thinking this, Tu Hu stepped forward. "Mr. Hu, Liang Xiao also said that your son Hu Lai was killed by him, and his concubine Li Rongqing was only used, not the mastermind. The State Chancellor has ordered me to bring Li Rongqing back for questioning. Please hand her over to me. Additionally, your guest Feng Ji is suspected of murder and must also come with me to the State Chancellor's office."

Hu Ying's mind buzzed. The poor are truly ruthless. Liang Xiao not only filed a complaint against Prince Liu Jian but also implicated the entire Hu family. It was either all or nothing.

...

Liu Jian was half-supported, half-dragged by Tu Hu into the State Chancellor's office and brought to the hall.

In the hall, only Zheng Dangshi was present. Hearing Liu Jian's voice, Zheng Dangshi looked up at him and gestured for him to sit. Liu Jian was about to sit down but saw a pool of blood on the mat.

"This..."

"This is Liang Xiao's blood." Zheng Dangshi smiled slightly. "He is severely injured and may die soon."

"That's great news." Liu Jian sighed in relief, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, and a relieved smile appeared on his face. "Thank you, State Chancellor."

Zheng Dangshi shook his head. "Your Highness, don't thank me yet. Although Liang Xiao is about to die, he has friends outside the city. If he can't leave Jiangdu alive, his friends will go to Chang'an. Your Highness, it's not that I don't want to help you, but I can't."

Liu Jian's smile froze. Go to Chang'an? That would be disastrous. If this matter reaches the Emperor's ears, the trouble will be enormous. The court ministers are always calling for the reduction of the feudal states. With this opportunity, they will surely take action against Jiangdu. Once the imperial edict is issued, the worst-case scenario is the destruction of the state, and the best-case scenario is the loss of territory. In any case, he would no longer be the crown prince.

"What... what should I do?" Liu Jian panicked, unable to sit still, and fell to his knees before Zheng Dangshi, weeping. "Chancellor Zheng, save me, save me!"

"Then, how did Liang Fen die?" Zheng Dangshi's smile faded, and he asked, word by word.

"Liang Fen..." Liu Jian was at a loss, his eyes darting around, trying to bluff his way through. But looking at Zheng Dangshi's eyes, he had no confidence. Clearly, Liang Xiao had already told Zheng Dangshi everything, and Zheng Dangshi was using this opportunity to thoroughly deal with him and his father.

This time, he had caused a major disaster. Even if his father favored him, he would not protect him. Liang E was a woman presented to his father.

Liu Jian collapsed on the ground, like a pile of mud.

...

Li Rongqing stumbled into the room, and Liang Miao rushed forward to embrace her.

The two women hugged each other, tears streaming down their faces, a mix of joy and sorrow.

"Mother, I... I never thought I would see you again. I... am I dreaming?"

"Daughter, you're not dreaming, you're not dreaming." Liang Miao wiped her tears, helped Li Rongqing to the bed, and made her sit down. "How are your injuries?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine. Feng Ji was injured, and the Hu family was busy treating him, so they didn't have time to interrogate me. Then the people from the State Chancellor's office came." Li Rongqing turned to look at Liang Xiao, who was sleeping soundly on the bed. "Mother, how... how did you end up at the State Chancellor's office?"

Liang Miao smiled. "You should ask him. Even I felt like it was a dream. I originally hoped his master would help save you, but Xiao'er used a small trick to get into the State Chancellor's office and convinced the State Chancellor to send people to rescue you." She looked at Liang Xiao with pride and admiration.

"I knew my father would protect us, protect my husband."

Liang Miao's heart stirred, looked around, and whispered to Li Rongqing, "Daughter, what was your family's original surname?"

Li Rongqing was taken aback. "Our family has always been surnamed Li. What's wrong?"

Liang Miao stared into Li Rongqing's eyes for a long time, then shook her head and smiled. "Nothing, maybe I was mistaken. Last night, I saw that someone had added a stroke to your father's tombstone, changing the Li character to Ji."

"Who could be so mean?" Li Rongqing was furious, her pale face turning red with anger. "My father has already passed away, and they still can't let him rest in peace?"

Liang Miao quickly consoled her. "Maybe it was just a prank by some young man. Don't be angry. We can change it back later. Daughter, if you want to avoid being bullied, you must be wealthy and powerful. Our future depends on Xiao'er. You must help me take good care of him and protect him from harm."

Li Rongqing blushed, glanced at the sleeping Liang Xiao, and softly agreed.

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